ACR Electronics, Ocean Signal Tout Life-Saving Benefits

ACR Electronics, Inc. and Ocean Signal are
highlighting to commercial owners and operators how the
life-saving capabilities of its distress beacons, including their
Category 1 automatically-deployed, float-free EPIRBs, are
significantly enhanced due to Cospas-Sarsat's next-generation
Medium-Earth Orbit Search and Rescue (MEOSAR)
system.

The update in technology means that the importance of including
an EPIRB for the vessel and PLBs for crew within the on-board
safety equipment will increase as the new Cospas-Sarsat system
reaches full operational capacity in the next few years.

All ACR Electronics and Ocean Signal beacons, including the ACR
GlobalFIX V4 and GlobalFIX Pro and iPro EPIRBs, the ACR ResQLink
PLBs, plus the Ocean Signal SafeSea E100 and E100G EPIRBs,
rescueME EPIRB1 and rescueME PLB1, are compatible with the
next-gen satellites, ensuring they will offer the near
instantaneous signal detection and transmission enabled by the
global MEOSAR satellite transponders and upgraded ground-station
components.

For commercial vessels that require a float-free EPIRB that
automatically deploys and activates when submerged in water, the
ACR Electronics GlobalFIX V4 and GlobalFIX Pro, and Ocean Signal
SafeSea 100G float-free EPIRBs feature Category 1 hydrostatic
release brackets or housing options. ACR and Ocean Signal EPIRBs
are reliable, innovative, compact and user-friendly with
exceptional battery lives, and feature robust internal GPS to fix
the exact location of the vessel in distress within 110 to 120
meters accuracy. The coordinates are then transmitted via a
406MHz distress signal to search and rescue authorities, with a
121.5MHz homing signal further guiding searchers to the position.

Estimates indicate that when using the next-gen network, anyone
activating a GPS-enabled ACR or Ocean Signal EPIRB or PLB can
expect their beacon to be located within 100 meters (328 feet),
95% of the time, within 5 minutes of the distress signal instead
of taking up to the one to two hours typical with the current
LEOSAR and GEOSAR system.

Chris Hoffman, Chairman of the RTCM (Radio Technical Commission
for Maritime Services) Board of Directors and chair of the RTCM
Special Committee SC110 on Emergency Beacons, said: "As the
representative of beacon manufacturers within the Cospas-Sarsat
community, we work closely with companies like ACR and Ocean
Signal to ensure that the needs of end users are taken into
account when developing these new systems and enhancements.

"The new MEOSAR network is poised to have a huge impact on search
and rescue and will ultimately result in more lives saved. In the
light of this ground-breaking update in technology, we want to
ensure that anyone who spends time at sea is aware of the
development and the value it adds to beacons, so they can make an
informed decision about why they should carry an EPIRB and a
PLB."

When complete there will be 72 MEOSAR satellites positioned at
Medium Earth Orbit altitude, over six times the number of
existing satellites in orbit. MEOSAR relays more beacon signals
to ground stations using a technique known as 'bent pipe' which
is an average of 46 minutes faster than LEOSAR. The network of
ground stations, called MEOLUTs (Local User Terminals), along
with multiple antenna systems, results in close to 100%
reliability and near instantaneous global coverage.

The first rescues demonstrating near real-time signal detection
using a MEOSAR satellite have already been documented, with the
new Cospas-Sarsat system expected to reach full operational
capability in 2020-21.